Jain texts assign a wide range of meaning to the word Dharma or Dhamma (Prakrit

Prakrit

Prakrit is the name for a group of Middle Indic, Indo-Aryan languages, derived from Old Indic dialects. The word itself has a flexible definition, being defined sometimes as, "original, natural, artless, normal, ordinary, usual", or "vernacular", in contrast to the literary and religious...

: धम्म). It is often translated as “religion” and as such, Jainism

Jainism

Jainism is an Indian religion that prescribes a path of non-violence towards all living beings. Its philosophy and practice emphasize the necessity of self-effort to move the soul towards divine consciousness and liberation. Any soul that has conquered its own inner enemies and achieved the state...

 is called as Jain Dharma by its adherents.

The word Dharma encompasses the following meanings in Jainism:

1. The true nature of a thing
2. Rationality of perception, knowledge and conduct
3. Ten virtues like forgiveness, etc. also called ten forms of Dharma
4. Ahimsa – protection to all living beings
5. Two paths – of the monks and the laity
6. Dharma as a dravya
   Dravya (Jainism)
   According to Jain cosmology, the universe is made up of six dravya : sentient beings or souls , non-sentient substance or matter , principle of motion , the principle of rest , space and time . The latter five are united as the ajiva...
   
    (substance or a reality) (the principle of motion)

The nature of a substance

According to Jainism, Universe and its constituents are uncreated and everlasting. These constituents behave according to the natural laws and their nature without interference from external entities. Dharma or true religion according to Jainism is vatthu sahāvo dhammo translated as "the intrinsic nature of a substance is its true dharma." Kārtikeyānupreksā (478) explains it as : “Dharma is nothing but the real nature of an object. Just as the nature of fire is to burn and the nature of water is to produce a cooling effect, in the same manner, the essential nature of the soul is to seek self-realization and spiritual elevation.”

Samyaktva - Rationality of perception, knowledge and conduct

According to Jainism, Samyak darsana (Rational Perception), Samyak jnana (Rational Knowledge) and Samyak caritra (Rational Conduct) collectively also known as Ratnatraya or the "Three Jewels of Jainism" constitute true Dharma. According to Umasvati, Samyak Darsana, Jnana Caritra together constitutes moksamarga or the path to liberation.

Samyak Darsana or rational perception is the rational faith in the true nature of every substances of the universe. Samyak Jnana or rational knowledge is the right knowledge of true and relevant knowledge of the reality, the tattvas. It incorporates the two principles of Anekantvada or non-absolutism and Syadvada

Syadvada

Syādvāda is the Doctrine of Postulation of Jainism. In other words, Syādvāda provides the body of teachings or instruction which one uses to derive a postulate or axiom. The starting assumption or postulate is given as saptabhanginaya, from which other statements are logically derived...

 or relativity of truth. Right knowledge must be free from three main defects: doubt, delusion, and indefiniteness. Samyak Caritra or rational conduct is the natural conduct of a (soul) living being. It consists in following austerities, engaging in right activities and observance of vows, carefulness and controls.

Ten Virtues as Dharma

The following ten virtues constitute true Dharma -

1. Supreme forgiveness
2. Supreme humility
3. Supreme straightforwardness
4. Supreme truthfulness
5. Supreme purity
6. Supreme self-restraint
7. Supreme penance
8. Supreme renunciation
9. Supreme non-possessiveness
10. Supreme celibacy

Ahimsa as Dharma

According to Jain texts, Ahimsa is the greatest Dharma and there is no religion equal to the religion of non-violence.

Two fold path of Ascetics and Laypersons

Dharma is the twofold path of Sravakadharma i.e. the path for laypersons and Sramanadharma i.e. the path of the ascetics or mendicants. Sravakadharma is the religious path for the virtuous householders, where charity and worship are the primary duties. The dharma of a householders consists of observance of twelve vows i.e. five minor vows and seven disciplinary vows.
Sramanadharma is the religious path of the virtuous ascetics, where mediatation and study of scriptures is their primary duty. The religion of monks consists of five Mahavrata

Mahavrata

The Mahavratas are the five great vows Jain monks observe. They are:# Ahimsa # Satya # Asteya # Brahmacharya # Aparigraha...

s or great vows. They are endowed with right faith, right knowledge and right conduct and engaged in complete self-restraint and penances.

Dharma-tattva and Dharmastikaya

Dharma is one of the six substances constituting the universe. These substances are – Dharma (medium of motion), Adharma (medium of rest), Akasa (space), kala (time), Pudgala (matter) and Jiva (soul). Since Dharma as a substance extends and pervades entire universe, it is also known as Dharmastikaya. It helps the matter and souls in movement. It itself is not motion, but is a medium of motion. Adharma is opposite of Dharma i.e. it assists the substances like soul and matter to rest.